Tanzanian President Kikwete Calls For Increased Efforts To Fight HIV/AIDS

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Article Date: 18 Sep 2008 - 10:00 PDT

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Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete on Saturday said that increased efforts to fight HIV/AIDS in the country need to be taken, the Citizen/AllAfrica.com reports. Speaking to residents of Kibaya in Tanzania's Manyara Region, Kikwete said that HIV/AIDS continues to threaten the country's development, despite efforts by the government and development partners to curb the spread of the disease. He also emphasized the need to address HIV/AIDS cases in rural areas. According to Kikwete, although it appeared in the past that most HIV-positive people were living in urban areas, rural areas now are seeing equal effects of HIV. He also asked residents to avoid unsafe sex practices, which he said are contributing to the growing number of HIV cases in the country.

The speech was part of Kitwete's first six-day visit to the Manyara region since he became president about three years ago. He also will travel to Hanang and Mbulu districts (Citizen/AllAfrica.com, 9/15).

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